Show-case.



PATENTED MAY 1 e, 1905.

0. JAEGER. snow CASE.

APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1904.

' UNITED STATES Patented May 16, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

SHOW-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,133, dated May 16, 1905. Application filed September 26, 1904:. Serial No. 225,893.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, OTTO J AEeER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, County of Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Show-Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a new and useful improvement in show-cases, and has for its object to provide means for constructing show-cases of plates of glass and securing said plates together without the necessity of riveting or boring holes through the glass and at the same time making the joints between the plates dust-proof.

With these ends in view this invention consists in'the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically designated by the claims. In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, the construction and operation will now be described in detail, referring tothe accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a showcase constructed according to my invention, a portion of the top being broken away to better show the means for fastening; Fig, 2, a vertical longitudinal section through the case; Fig. 3, an end view of the upper portion of the case, the corner-pieces being shown in section; Fig. 4:, a perspective view of one of the corner-pieces.

A represents the base of the case, which is provided with a groove in which the lower ends of the sides B and ends C rest. Said sides and ends are formed of one plate of glass, as also is the top D.

E represents corner-pieces designed to fit in the upper edges of the sides and ends at the corners.

' As shown in the drawings, the end plates C overlap the ends of the sides B; but it is edges of the plates O and B, said arms thereby being at right angles to one another. Extending downward from one of the arms E is a lip F, said lip being wide enough to bear not only against the end of the ends C, but also against a portion of the fiat surface of the sides B. G is a lip extending downward 'from the other arm E, and this lip bears against the outside surface of the ends C. H is a lip extending downward from the same armthat the lip F is connected to; but this lip H extends downward from the opposite side of the arm and bears against the inside surface of the sides B.

I is a wire or other flexible connection which extends along the top edge of the sides B and over the-top of the arms E. then downward through the opening E in the cornerpiece E, downward between the ends of the sides B and the end plates 0, and the lower ends of this wire are drawn taut by any suitable means, either by simply winding the same upon a screw or nail or by connecting the ends of the wire to screws J, as shown in the drawings, and threading a nut J upon the screws, which nut bearing against the lower surface of the base- A will draw the wire taut and hold the sides B tightly downward in the groove in the base, and as the wire passes through the holes E it will hold the corner-pieces E se:

curely to the sides B, and these corner-pieces, n

through the lips G, will hold the ends from falling outward, and the lips H of the cornerpicces will keep the sides from falling inward. K represents wire which extend along the top edge of the ends O, and each end of these wires extends downward through an opening E in each corner-piece E, and the ends of the Wire are bent underneath the corner-pieces E. As shown in Fig. 3, after the wire has been drawn taut these wires K serve to bindthe opposite corner-pieces together, and thus prevent the sides B from falling away from one another. It will thus be seen that by means of these corner-pieces and wires the sides and ends of the case are bound securely together without the necessity of riveting or cementing the plates of glass together. Of course if the back of the case is designed to be made of wood the rear ends of the wires K Will simply be fastened into this wooden back in any desirable manner. If the top of the case is to be secured permanently to the same, the top plate D is simply laid so as to rest upon the Wires K and I, and the clips L, which extend upward from the outside of each of the arms of the-corner pieces E, are, bent over upon the top of the plate D, as shown in Fig. 1, thus retaining said top plate securely in position. If the top plate D is hinged or designed to be raised in any manner, said clips L are dispensed with.

In order to make the joints between the plates dust-proof, I surround the wires I and K with a rubber tube or other substance of like nature, as illustrated at I.- This compressible covering 1 of the wires not only makes the joints between the plates dust-proof, but also forms a cushion which will take up any jar, and thus to a certain extent prevent the accidental breaking of the plates of glass. I have found by experiment that insulated wire is an excellent article to use for the wires I and K.

Of course I do not wish to be limited to the exact construction here shown, as slight modifications could be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and useful is 1'. In a show-case, a base, a groove formed in the upper surface of the base, side and end plates of glass, the lower edges of which are adapted to lie within said groove, the end plates adapted to overlap the ends of the side plates, angular corner-pieces adapted to lie upon the top edge of the sides and end plates at their corners, each corner-piece provided with a lip extending downward bearing against the outside surface of the end of the end plates and also a portion of the outer surface of the side plates, a lip extending downward from the other arm of the corner-piece bearing against the outer surface of the end plates, a lip extending downward from the corner-piece bearing against the inner surface of the side plates, a wire extending along the top edge of the side plates downward through the corner-pieces and between the end of the side plates and the end plates, the ends of said wire extending into the base to which they are secured, wires secured at each end to the corner-pieces and extending along the top edge of the end plates, as and for the purpose specified.

2. In ashow-case, a base, side and end plates of glass, the lower ends of which are secured in said base, the end plates of glass overlapping the ends of the side plates, corner-pieces located at the upper corners of the side and end plates, each corner-piece consisting of two arms extending at right angles to one another adapted to lie flat upon the top edges of the side and end plates, a lip F extending downward from one arm of the corner-piece. said lip bearing against the end of the end plate and also against a portion of the outside surface of the side plate, a lip H extending downward from the opposite side of the same arm and bearing against the inner surface of the side plate, a lip G extending downward from the opposite arm and bearing against the outer surface of the end plate, a flexible wire or cord extending along the top edge of the side plates and over the corner-pieces, the ends of said wire extending downward through openings provided in the corner-pieces between the ends of the side plates and the inner surface of the end plates, the ends of said wires being secured in the base of the case, wires secured at each end to opposite cornerpieces and extending along the top edge of the end plates, a top plate of glass adapted to rest upon said wire, clips extending upward from each arm of each corner-piece and bent over the top of said top plate to retain the same in position, as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a show-case, a base, side and end plates of glass secured at their lower ends within said base, corner-pieces, each consisting of two arms at right angles to one another lying flat upon the top edges of the side and end plates at the corner, lips extending downward from each of said arms of each corner-piece adapted to hold the side plates from falling inward or outward, and the end plates from falling outward, said end plates prevented from falling inward by overlapping the ends of the side plates, wires extending along the top edge of the side plates downward through the cornerpieces between the ends of the side plates and the inner surface of the end plates, the ends of said wires being secured within the base, wires secured at each end into opposite corner-pieces and extending along the top edge of the end plates, a flexible and compressible covering for all of said wires, a top plate of glass adapted to lie upon the wires, and clips extending upward from the corner pieces adapted to be bent over the top plate to hold said top plate in position, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two suhseribing witnesses.

OTTO JAEGER.

Witnesses:

HENRY MoDoNNELL, DANIEL MOONEY. 

